Volunteer Abroad Programs in Peru | Volunteer in Peru

What if you could practice your Spanish, enjoy a fabulous adventure, enhance your resume, earn academic credit (depending on the program), and contribute your time and skills to an important cause? We imagine you’d say ‘yes!’ This is the opportunity a Peru volunteer abroad program may provide. Read on for more Volunteer in Peru programs information.

Peru is located in South America along the western coast of the continent. It’s next to Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. Its official languages are Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara, and its culture is influenced by its Spanish and native American roots. Its geography is quite diverse with arid plains, expansive mountains, and the Amazon rainforest. It also has a long coastline that hugs the Pacific Ocean. The country’s beauty, biodiversity, and intriguing culture may make it a wonderful place to volunteer abroad. If you want to spend time in South America, why not volunteer abroad in Peru?

Why Consider Volunteering in Peru?

Whether you volunteer in a medical clinic, a school, an orphanage, a conservation facility, or another of Peru’s many non-profit or non-governmental organizations, you’ll likely enjoy a life-enhancing experience. Working alongside locals could help you gain a better sense of life in Peru and you may learn some about your colleagues’ families and experiences in the country. Depending on your program, you may also engage in a language-intensive program, take tours with your colleagues, or take classes to enhance your volunteering experience. Any of these options could add breadth and depth to your experience. Even if you opt to solely volunteer abroad in Peru, you’ll likely always keep a piece of the country nestled in your mind and heart.

What Might It Be Like to Live in Peru While I Volunteer Abroad?

While you’re volunteering in Peru, you’ll also be living there! This means that you’ll likely get to submerse yourself in Peruvian culture. Where you live and volunteer in Peru (in Lima, a large metropolitan city or Cusco, a smaller town in the mountains, for example) will influence your experience, but there are some things you’ll likely experience no matter where you are located. For example:

Peruvian culture: Perhaps consistent with its biodiversity, Peru’s culture is diverse. Peruvian societies are metropolitan, modern, rustic, agricultural, and everything in between. The country’s Spanish heritage mixes with its native heritage, and its culture’s many nuances are expressed through Peruvian song, dance, and artistry. Handicrafts are beloved in Peruvian culture, as are its alpacas and llamas, many of whom give their wool to Peruvian artistry. Peru is a country that values its history, rituals, and traditions and celebrates many of them through ceremonies, rituals, festivals, and museums.

Peruvian cuisine: As a hardworking volunteer, you’ll need to eat! Luckily, Peruvian cuisine has you covered. Some of the country’s staple foods include quinoa, beans, corn, and potatoes (of which there are more than 25000 varieties! Check out the potato section at a market.) A popular seasoning is the yellow chili pepper (called aji), and you’ll find it atop dishes, mixed into sauces, and even served in drinks. Causa, a cold casserole traditionally layered with avocado and potatoes and sometimes intertwined with tuna, meat, or hard-boiled eggs (and then sliced and sometimes cut into fun shapes!) is another Peruvian favorite. Meat-lovers might enjoy lomo saltado (stir-fry made with beef, vegetables, and soy sauce and served over rice), antichuchos (skewers of grilled meat), rocoto relleno (a large, hot pepper cut in half and served with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese), and cuy (roasted or baked guinea pig—yes, guinea pigs!). And the pièce de résistance in Peru, at least in its coastal areas, is ceviche. Ceviche consists of raw fish “cooked” by the citrus in limes and, commonly, onions, peppers, and cilantro. In Peru, it’s often served alongside cooked sweet potato and choclo, or giant pieces of corn. If you’re thirsty in Peru, try an Inca Cola, a chichi morada, or, if you’re old enough to drink, the Pisco Sour.

These are just some of the many culinary delights of Peru. If you want to volunteer abroad, Peru may offer a wonderful opportunity to eat your way through the experience!

Peruvian Landmarks

There are also some amazing places you might consider visiting while you’re volunteering in Peru. For example, why not visit:

Machu Picchu: Perhaps one of Peru’s most beloved sights. Machu Picchu is a breathtaking 15th century Incan city in the heart of the Andes. Consider taking a guided trek to Machu Picchu or climbing Huayna Picchu once inside.

The Peruvian Amazon Basin: Hike through the rainforest, enjoy rustic lodging along Sandoval Lake, and keep your eyes open for wildlife!

The sand dunes in Huacuacina. Consider sandboarding or hopping a ride on a dune buggy.

Cusco: Spend some time in its plazas and exploring its colorful and vibrant market. Eat some good food, meet some great people, and chew on coca leaves to stave off altitude sickness.

Lima: Visit the magic water circuit at the Parque de la Reserva, the cat park in Mira Flores, and Mercado Surquillo No. 1.

I’m Ready to Volunteer in Peru. Now What?

We’ve put together a list of programs that offer a range of opportunities to volunteer abroad in Peru. Simply browse through the programs and click on “Learn More” to view details. When you find a program you love, submit a form to request more information and to learn how to register. Alternatively, you can click on the program’s name from the homepage to go to the program’s website. Why not give yourself (and Peru) the gift of volunteering abroad? Your opportunity to contribute and enjoy a fantastic adventure awaits.

Featured Program Information

Sponsored Volunteer in Peru Program Listings

Learn about social issues that communities face. By partnering with community-based organizations and following a reflection-based curriculum, you will learn first-hand how local professionals are addressing issues with the available resources.

Based on your specific learning objectives, your university’s requirements, and our partner organization's overall goals, we will design a customized internship for you.
There are a variety of internships available, suitable for almost any major.

With an extensive Pacific coastline, a vast area of Amazon rainforest, and the magnificent Andes, Peru provides a chance for you to experience much of what South America offers within just one country. High School Special Trips in Peru are available in

A popular program for our volunteers, this program offers a very communal experience. Volunteers are accommodated in large homestays with local families, and this creates a great environment for networking in the evenings.

BridgeAbroad

Hours: 10 hours per week of Intensive Spanish Language instruction in addition to 20 hours per week of the teaching field experience.
Credits: Students who take at least four weeks of Spanish language classes will be eligible to receive 3-4 course credit

Alliance Abroad Group - Australia

AIDE Abroad’s international volunteer program in Peru provides opportunities to explore the fields of ecotourism, conservation, and social development. Your volunteer work may involve rehabilitating jungle animals, building homes for low-income populatio

Caminante Spanish Home School

Learning Spanish with Caminante Spanish Home School is both enjoyable and serious punctuality, classroom participation and homework are essential to your success.
Every course includes Peruvian Culture. Our Immersion program focussed in Live and study

Asociation Sharing dreams - Peru

Our only requirement to the applicants is to be 21 years or older. Although anyone can participate, education or experience in the fields of psychology, education and social work, journalism, sociology, anthropology, law, journalism, health, and related f

"During the week of Spring Break or the second two weeks of the month-long summer programs, ISA-HS Global Impact students engage in volunteer activities with local organizations in their host city. Volunteer options generally fall into specific service ar

ELI-Experiential Learning International

The streets of Lima are a tough place for kids with nowhere else to turn. Many Peruvian children end up on the streets as an escape from extreme poverty, abusive home situations, or as a result of losing a parent or other family members. On the streets, c

i-to-i Volunteer and Adventure Travel

We think another reason to visit the land of the Incas is to help Peru with her commitment to education and development. In less than fifty years, the literacy rate has climbed from 42% to nearly 90% - an amazing accomplishment for a country as physically

Grand Classroom

The lessons learned through this adventure will not be obtained in a classroom setting. Instead, students will learn through cultural immersion, service projects, and speaking the language with each other and natives. Some of the specific curriculum highl

Runa Foundation

We believe that the most effective and sustainable way to protect the Amazon is to show it's value in a tangible way. To do that, Rios Nete is building a health and research center in the upper Peruvian Amazon to investigate medicinal plants and the cultu

Peru Bergsport - ALUMNI TRAVEL

ALUMNI TRAVEL TO PERU is the program of PERU BERGSPORT TRAAVEL COMPANY based in Peru since 2001, experiences in managing Students Groups, most of this tours is programmed for Learning and Cultural Interchange Purpose
Peru Local Travel Agent, Tour Leaders

Youth International, LLC

Youth International offers a unique experiential learning programs that combine rugged international travel, inter-cultural exchange, outdoor adventure, community service, and home stays with local families. Teams of up to 14 peers between the ages of 18

Xploreo

Xploreo programs are the most DIY immersion travel option out there. We connect you to local volunteer opportunities and authentic immersive experiences around the world. If you want a fully personalized volunteer experience join Xploreo!

Love One Love All

LOLA is a unique program by allowing students to remain enrolled in their university courses while experiencing a gap year. Through their enrollment, students can receive academic scholarships as well utilize their FAFSFA. For more information about LOLA

Love Volunteers

Join the world’s fastest growing volunteering organization on one of our affordable, safe and responsible programs for a truly memorable experience in Peru! Check out our range of grass-roots projects and find out how you can make a REAL difference!

Proyecto Peru Centre

Proyecto Peru focuses on improving the language ability of students through conversation, comprehension, pronunciation and reading. Finally, we examine important grammatical points at each level. For the Spanish lessons Proyecto Peru uses an interactive w

WorkingAbroad Projects

We currently offer four different taxonomic groups for Research Assistant volunteers and interns to select to work with (although it may be possible to work with more than one, so please ask):Mammals, Birds, Herpetofauna and Insects.
Each Research Assis

Kaya Responsible Travel Ltd

You will arrive on the Sunday and receive your orientation on Monday before being introduced to your project. Working from Tuesday to Friday, you will round your week off with a full day tour of the Sacred Valley.

Connect With Us

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Email Address *

By entering email address and clicking "Submit" I agree to be contacted by EducationDynamics for additional education products and services, this submission is not required to use our site. Privacy Policy.